(18-19 February 2025)

Item 4. Incorporation of the Agreement on Electronic Commerce into Annex 4 of the WTO Agreement 

I would like to begin by expressing my sincere appreciation to the outgoing ambassadors for their contributions to the WTO, with special thanks to Ambassador Acarsoy.

I would also like to extend my warm welcome to the newly arrived ambassadors. I look forward to working with them in the future.

On E-Commerce Agreement, I would like to extend my thanks to co-convenors for your tireless efforts and strong leadership on E-Commerce Agreement. China supports early inclusion of E-Commerce Agreement into the WTO framework.

Chair, digital trade is the fastest growing and most resilient component of trade, now representing more than 25% of global trade. This dynamic landscape underscores the need for a more open, predictable and inclusive regulatory framework. The E-commerce Agreement, as the first global agreement on digital trade, establishes a strong baseline to support a more enabling business environment, provides new opportunities to MSMEs, and demonstrates WTO can respond to the fast-evolving world and deliver tangible outcomes.

We believe this Agreement can serve as a powerful tool for development. Once taking effect, it will drive Members’ economic growth and social development by facilitating the knowledge exchange, encouraging investment flow, and boosting digital literacy. Meanwhile, this Agreement also supports developing members with flexible implementation periods, targeted needs assessments and capacity building programme.

Chair, we firmly believe that digital divides can only be narrowed by developing digital economy. We encourage more members to join the Agreement at an early time and seize this important development opportunity.

Thank you, Chair.

Item 5. Report by the Chairperson of the Trade Negotiations Committee and Report by the Director–General

Thank you, Chair.

On Agriculture, we appreciate the outgoing Chair, Ambassador Acarsoy’s contributions. As the MC14 is approaching, we should continue our work on three aspects soon. First, appointing the new chair at the earliest date. Second, identifying possible outcome as part of development package for MC14. Third, holding fact-based candid dialogues on different pillars, and launching the sustainable agriculture discussions which we believe will be helpful to change the mindset and enable meaningful negotiations.

On DS reform, China recognizes the “significant progress” made on dispute settlement reform by the end of 2024. We encourage all members to continue working constructively this year, with the aim of having a fully and well functioning dispute settlement system by MC14. In this regard, we look forward to the consultations with GC Chair in the near future.

On Fish, China is strongly committed to concluding the Phase II agreement at an early date. We look forward to the resumption of our work under the leadership of a new Chair. Meanwhile, we are glad to see the progress in the ratification process of the Phase I agreement. We hope the remaining members will speed up their internal process and the agreement will come into force by this summer.

Last but not least, regarding Members’ comments on the current trade turbulence caused by unilateral measures, I will address these in detail under Item 8. As for comments on China’s policies, while we disagree with certain characterizations, we remain open to discuss those issues within the WTO’s mandate. Regarding matters beyond the WTO’s scope, we are also willing to engage in exchanges and dialogues in other appropriate forum, to enhance mutual understanding. One thing is clear: China is strongly committed to safeguarding the rule-based multilateral trading system. We never force others to negotiate out of fear, and we never fear to negotiate.

Item 8. Heightened Trade Turbulence and Responses from the WTO

Round 1

Thank you, Chair.

China requests this item to discuss how the WTO and its Members can collectively respond to heightened trade turbulence. I take note that many members have expressed their serious concerns under previous item.

The world faces a series of “Tariff Shocks”. The US has imposed or threatened tariffs on its trading partners, including China, unilaterally and arbitrarily, blatantly violating WTO rules. China firmly opposes such measures.

These “Tariff Shocks” heighten economic uncertainty, disrupt global trade, and risk domestic inflation, market distortion, or even global recession.

Worse, the US unilateralism threatens to upend the rules-based multilateral trading system (MTS). The MTS is hard-earned, and painstakingly built on the lessons of the devastation of world wars and the Great Depression. Its rules and institutions are a public good for all Members. No Member has the right to undermine its authority. The stakes are high for all members, big or small.

At this critical juncture, as a rule-based organization regulating the global trade, the WTO must have its voice.

In the meantime, the Members must act. Beyond reiterating commitment to multilateralism, we must translate words into action by ensuring MC14 delivers tangible results, particularly on development.

Let’s work together to turn crises into opportunities. Amid the storm of unilateralism, the WTO remains an island of stability and a cornerstone for rule-based trade. This heightened turbulence also spurs urgency for WTO reform, so that we can cement its foundation, and restore its functions to address the challenges of our time.

Together, we can weather this storm and emerge stronger.

I will stop here, Chair.

Round 2

Thank you, Chair.

China appreciates the thoughtful interventions from all Members and the DG, including those made under previous agenda items. There is a clear shared concern over unilateralism and arbitrary tariffs, which threatens the stability of global trade.

Regarding the US comments, they are, at best, a red herring. While the US may attempt to deflect attention by reviving old rhetoric, which China previously already refuted many times, including in this room, we cannot lose sight of the root cause of today’s trade turbulence and threats to all members: It is US arbitrary tariffs and unilateral measures.

The real questions we must ask ourselves are: Can we practice multilateralism, not exceptionalism? Can we embrace predictability, not fuel uncertainty? Can we uphold WTO rules, not succumb to the law of the jungle? And can we take up shared responsibility, not just self-serving? The answers to these questions lie at the heart of our discussions today.

We urge the US to honestly address these questions, withdraw its wrongful unilateral tariffs and threats, and engage in multilateral dialogues based on equity, mutual benefit, and mutual respect. As a key Member of the WTO, the US has a responsibility to play a constructive role in strengthening the multilateral trading system, not undermining it.

China is open to engage with all members, of course including the US.

Thank you, Chair.

Item 9.  Follow–up to the WTO Off–Site Retreat on Trade as a Tool for Development and Way Forward

Thank you, Chair.

I would like to thank South Africa and Barbados for this agenda item. Development should be front and central on the international agenda. The development retreat has laid a good basis for deliberating and delivering development outcomes. The biggest takeaway is, a development package is a must for MC14.

As the Chinese saying goes, “Spring is the time for making plans for rest of year”. We need to follow up with concrete actions before summer, on long-standing issues such as the G90 ASP on SDT and LDCs graduations, on forward-looking issues such as development opportunities during the age of digital transformation and green transition. We also need to work harder on the broader development issues, such as fish II, agriculture and food security, and the Investment Facilitation for Development Agreement, etc.

To this end, all members need to contribute their fair share of pragmatism, flexibility and responsibility. As a major developing member, China has been undertaking due responsibilities commensurate with its level of development in the WTO. Based on this principle, I would like to formally announce that China will not seek the flexibilities of SDT in G90 proposal. This is China’s concrete contribution to advance the G90 proposal. Let’s go beyond the position-based strategies and engage in a constructive, pragmatic and solution-oriented manner, with a view to delivering more development outcomes at MC14.

Item 10. Dialogue on Sustainable Agriculture in the Multilateral Trading System

Thank you Chair.

China would like to thank Brazil and the GC chair for the consultations and Brazil’s efforts in re-circulating the paper. While we don’t share all those views and suggestions of Brazil, we see sustainable agriculture is a valuable area that WTO has its role to play. So we support to launch the discussions on this, starting from a retreat. Here I would like to share 3 points.

First, we understand that there is no universal-accepted concept of sustainable agriculture, however, in certain areas WTO can and should have a role to play. Therefore we suggest having an information session before the retreat. We could invite relevant international organizations to share their understandings and work in this regard. In the meantime, we do have Committees like the Trade Facilitation, SPS and TBT in the WTO, whose work is very relevant to sustainable agriculture, and we could also invite them to the information session to introduce what they have done.

Second, for the purpose of efficient discussion and achieving the objective of reaching a common understanding on the possible future work of the WTO in the proposed retreat, the guiding questions should be carefully designed and avoid touching on too many details, which members could have very different views and that would not help us reach the expected outcomes.

Third, we believe with good discussions on the sustainable agriculture, it will help us better understand the realities of the contemporary agricultural development, and change the mindset of agricultural negotiations instead of repeating the positions formed in another age.

Thank you.

Item 11. WTO Accessions: 2024 Annual Report by the Director–General

Thank you Chair.

I would also like to thank the DG for the annual report on WTO accessions, as well as the Secretariat for their efforts in accession negotiations and post-accession support.

Accession is important, both to the acceding governments and to the WTO. We hope more economies could join the WTO in the near future and are committed to working with them to cross the finish-line. In particular, we look forward to the early accession of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Uzbekistan, before or at MC14.

China also calls on all members to show utmost flexibility to facilitate the LDCs accessions. In this respect, China will continue supporting the capacity building of acceding LDCs and developing members through the “China Programme”.

Thank you.

Item 12. Review of the Exemption provided under paragraph 3 of the GATT 1994

Thank you Chair.

We totally reject the U.S.’s comments and views relating to China. This is again an act of red herring. China would like to point out that according to paragraph 3(b) of GATT 1994, the purpose of the review is to exam whether the conditions for the exemption still prevail. Not on any other members.

In the spirit of reciprocity and brevity, let me just quote some objective of assessment done by the U.S. on the Jones Act: “The Jones Act: A Burden America Can No Longer Bear”, “Jones Act Is Costly, Ineffective, Unfair”.

We hope the US side can seriously take into account of the concerns expressed by members, and give objective and responsible answers.

Item 14. WTO at 30 – Statement by the Director–General

Thank you Chair and DG.

I would like to join others to extend my heartfelt appreciation for your excellent leadership and tireless efforts in guiding the WTO. Three points to share.

First, China supports to hold events such as stocktaking retreats.

Second, China supports your suggestion on the expert review.

Last but not least,it is important to elevate the discussion on WTO reform to political levels. What equally important, is we members in Geneva need to prepare the basis for such political engagement.

I take note that the term of member-driven is repeatedly mentioned. I think there are some basic questions we should ask ourselves: How should we as members more effectively drive this organization? What direction should we drive?

China would stand ready to work closely with you and the membership, to participate constructively in these three workstreams.